Disney Princess Generations: Mystery Mother

Chapter 2

Duties of an Orphan in the Household of Sir Gerold:
6 am- wake up, breakfast
630 am- chore hour
730 am- free time
1000 am- assigned work
1200 pm- lunch
100 pm- lunch cleanup and chore hour
230 pm- orphanage meeting
300 pm- outside activity
500 pm- dinner
600 pm- dinner clean up and chore hour
730 pm- lecture from Sir Gerold
800 pm- free time
1000 pm- bedtime
••••••••••
On the week days, Sir Gerold was very strict on keeping to his schedule and rules. Even free time had boundaries. You weren't allowed to go outside. Not until your outside activity. Even then, you had to get approval to go beyond the tree line. Sir Gerold never approved when the twins asked. That didn't stop them from going, though.
Because of this schedule, the orphans could not get ready until after breakfast and the first chore hour. Cotton hated this. It always took her an hour and a half to shower, change, freshen up. That only left an hour of free time for her in the morning. Octavian was lucky. It only took him 30 minutes to get ready.
After her shower, Cotton put on her favorite baby blue dress. It was light-weight, much more so than all of her others. The waist belt was a sparkling gold. Of course it wasn't real gold. No way could she afford that. It was decorated in red rose patterns. To accompany the belt, Cotton wore her most prized possession: a ruby necklace. This gift had been given to her by her last orphanage manager, Madame Lillian. Cotton wove her ebony hair into an elegant bun. To top it all off, she placed small red flowers in her braids. She loved the color red.
Today was no different. She walks down the grand staircase and into the house's foyer around 9 o'clock. The great hall was bustling. There were about 45 orphans staying with Sir Gerold. He did live in a very large manor, after all.
It only took Cotton a few seconds to spot Octavian across the room. He would always go to the same private corner and read the letter. Octavian glanced up and saw Cotton. He urged her over. It was time for Cotton to start helping him decode the letter.
As Cotton made her way over, she passed by a group of orphaned boys who were goofing off around a small round table. One of them stood up. It was Matthew. The dark haired, well-built, tall, most annoying man in all the land. Or at least, he was to Cotton.
"Hey rosey," Matthew said to Cotton. "Aren't you looking gorgeous today?"
Cotton didn't say a word. She just stared at him. He was blocking her path to Octavian.
"You can't speak today?" He asked her. He stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. "That's a shame."
"Sure," Cotton replied. "Why don't you get out of my way?"
"Why, anything for a lady such as thyself," Matthew said in a fake gentleman's accent.
He bowed and stepped out of her way.
Cotton moved around him slowly, making sure to watch him.
She looked away and noticed that Octavian was standing up, prepared to come to his sister's defense if needed. Cotton smiled. She was about to move when she felt a hand hit her..... somewhere she didn't appreciate. Cotton whirled around and saw Matthew's face twisted into a smirk.
No one touched her like that without there being consequences. Harder than she'd ever done before, Cotton punched him straight across the jaw. Matthew stumbled backwards into the table. His friends stood up to get out of the way. Once he regained his balance, Matthew glared at Cotton.
"Oh no you didn't," he said to her. He approached her menacingly, one arm  outstretched, pointing at her.
Cotton slowly backed up. She wasn't very scared. This wasn't her first time making Matthew angry. Wasn't her first time hitting him either. Just her first time hitting him that hard. This time, however, the look in Matthew's eyes made Cotton think he was ready to do some serious damage.
"Stop!" Cotton recognized Octavian's voice.
Matthew was too close and Octavian was too far. Cotton had to think of something. Something fast.
Matthew was only inches from her face. "Don't go disrespecting you elders, young lady."
"What elders?" She retorted. "You're only 2 weeks older than me." She probably shouldn't have said that.
Matthew's face was rage ravaged. He raised up his hand. Cotton braced herself. But Matthew didn't hit her. He couldn't. Not that he wouldn't. He couldn't. Another hand had grabbed his.
It was a boy. Around the same age as Matthew. Cotton hadn't seen him before, which meant he must have been fairly new to the orphanage.
The boy had dark hair. Brown. It reminded Cotton of chocolate. His eyes sparkled a magnificent blue. Piercing blue. The kind that stares into your soul and makes you feel guilty for everything you've done. That's what they were doing to Matthew. Making him feel guilty.
"Don't go disrespecting your ladies, young man," the boy spat at Matthew.
The boy stood up. Way stronger and way taller was he than Matthew. Matthew looked... scared.
"Okay, calm yourself," Matthew said. He tried to play off his voice's shaking, but it didn't work. "I wasn't going to hit a lady in the first place. That's a terrible thing to do." He shrugged his shoulders. "I was just gesturing... grandly."
"Right," the boy said. He let go of Matthew's arm.
Matthew immediately turned away, dragging two of his friends with him, and walked out the door. It sure was quieter without those disgraces in there.
The boy turned to Cotton. She stared, wide-eyed. She herself wanted to crawl under the table when under the scrutiny of those eyes.
The boy greeted her, "Hey. I'm Charles White. Nice to meet you." He stuck out his hand, expecting Cotton to shake it.
White? she thought.
For a while, all Cotton did was stare at it. That was a very big hand. When Cotton finally placed her hand in it, the boy's hand swallowed hers. "I'm Cotton. I've never known my last name, or else I'd tell you." Charles released her hand.
Charles laughed. "I don't know my last name either. I was brought to the orphanage in a white blanket, so the woman who took me in chose White to be my last name."
Cotton laughed as well. He has a pretty laugh, she thought. "Thank you for what you did. Getting rid of Matthew and all."
"No problem," he replied. "That Matthew kid just needs a good, stern talking to."
"He needs a lot more than just a talking to," Cotton disagreed. "I'd say a nice beating is in order."
Charles smiled. He has a pretty smile, too, she thought. Cotton found herself smiling back.
The sound of someone clearing their throat startled Cotton. She turned to her right and saw Octavian standing there.
"You okay, sis?" Octavian asked her.
"Oh, I'm just fine," Cotton said cheerily. "This kind gentleman, Charles White, chased away the bad guy."
"Well thank you, Charles," Octavian said, turning to Charles to shake hands. "I'm Octavian, Cotton's brother."
"Nice to meet you."
"Are you new around here?" Octavian inquired.
Charles nodded. "As a matter of fact, I arrived this morning.
"Why are you still traveling between orphanages? You must be older than 18," Cotton spoke up.
"I am," Charles said. "I'm not here as an orphan, though. I'm here as an intern. I hope to take over the Fitzgerald manor soon. I'll follow Sir Gerold around on his daily duties to learn and observe."
"Oh," Cotton said, a bit disappointed.
"That's not a happy reaction," Charles laughed. "I take it you and Sir Gerold don't get along?"
"Not at all," Octavian and Cotton said at the same time.
"Are you two twins?" Charles asked.
"Yes, yes we are." Octavian and Cotton said, again in unison.
••••••••••
It was true. Charles was there to learn how to properly run the Fitzgerald household and observe how to manage the orphanage. The twins learned about it again during the orphanage meeting that afternoon.
Sir Gerold stood up on the outdoor patio as the orphans gathered in the yard. He raised his arms and clapped three times for attention.
"Good evening, everyone," he said, projecting his voice all across the yard. "I hope your day has been pleasant so far?"
No one responded. No one ever responded.
Near the back door entrance to the parlor, Cotton could see Charles. He looked nervous.
Sir Gerold continued speaking, "Orphans, I'm afraid I have some dreadful news." He paused for effect. It worked. Panicked whispers spread among us. Most were worried that the orphanage was closing down and they'd be separated from their friends. That's most all that these orphans had. Friends. They were much too old to have the hope they would be adopted.
Continuing with his dreadful news, Sir Gerold announced, "Within a few days, I will be retiring from the orphanage. I know, I know! It's so horrible. Hold your tears, though, my friends. I must inform you that I will be remaining at the manor and that the orphanage will not be without a manager!"
Octavian observed that no one, in fact, had found any of this news horrible.
Sir Gerold gestured for Charles to come up on the patio with him. "This, everyone, is Charles. He will be taking over the duties of estate and orphanage manager."
No one seemed too excited to see Charles.
Sir Gerold looked at Charles, "Do you have anything you'd like to say to the orphans who you will hopefully, one day, call your friends?"
Charles hesitated. "I-I just hope we can grow close to each other, learn to trust one another, and overall, just have fun."
Again, no one was super excited.
Sir Gerold was. He clapped and patted Charles on the back. "Very well said, Charles. Anyway. Enough of that. You can go sit down, Charles."
Charles did as he was told.
"Back to business," Sir Gerold stated. He went on to describe things such as shower schedule, work duties for each orphan, and the outdoor activities he had prepared for the orphans to take part in. Just lots of stuff no one really cares for.
After the announcements, the orphans were dismissed to play outside.
Octavian took Cotton by the arm and dragged her near the building. "We didn't have time to work on it during this afternoon's free time, so we'll have to do it tonight."
Cotton was confused. "Work on what?"
"The letter, obviously. It's been less than a day. Have you already forgotten your deal?"
"Oh. No. Of course not. I'll help," Cotton assured her brother.
"Okay. Good," Octavian visually relaxed a little, relieved to think someone would be helping him crack the code.
Cotton looked out at the yard. All the orphans had already started playing the set-up games.
"What do you want to do?" Cotton inquired of her brother. Neither of the twins had friends here at the orphanage, so they usually hung out with each other.
"Well that looks fun," Octavian said. He started to point, but a body appeared in his way. Octavian dropped his hand. It was Charles.
"Hello," Charles greeted, a big smile on his face.
"Hey," the twins replied simultaneously. They looked at each other and smiled.
Charles looked at Cotton. "What were you planning on doing?" He inquired of her.
"Oh, Octavian and I hadn't decided," Cotton responded.
"Do you guys do the games together all the time?" Charles asked.
"Normally, yes," Octavian responded.
Charles attention went from Cotton to Octavian. "Then I suppose I should ask you for permission to take your sister on a walk?"
Octavian gaped. No one ever asked him permission to do anything with Cotton. Mostly because it was Matthew who tried doing things with Cotton, and he obviously didn't care to have permission from either Octavian or even Cotton.
After quite a few moments of hesitation, Octavian responded, "Sure."
"Thank you," Charles said. "I'll make sure to keep her safe." He held out his arm and Cotton took it cautiously. Charles led her away.
With a glance back at her brother, Cotton saw that Octavian looked lost. He didn't know what to do without his sister. Didn't have anyone to do anything with. It was a sad realization for the both of them.
"Where are we going to go, Charles?" Cotton inquired.
Charles looked at her. "I was thinking maybe a stroll through the woods. I heard there was a lovely meadow a few yards in."
"Yes! I've been quite a few times," Cotton told him. "I love drawing the scenery."
"You draw?" Charles asked, a bit stunned.
"Yes. It's a fun pastime," Cotton responded.
They walked along in silence for a few minutes.
"By the way," Charles spoke up suddenly. "You can call me Charlie."